Barcelona loanee Eric Garcia talks Xavi, Cancelo, Ferran Torres, Pablo Torre, Girona move

Barcelona loanee Eric Garcia has explained how his move to Girona was finalized within 24 hours, saying that one day he had a talk with Xavi about his continuity and the next day he was moving on loan.

Following his return to Barcelona in 2021 on a five-year contract, Garcia was given enough prominence within the team to be a first-team player. 

During the 2022/23 season, however, the 22-year-old was demoted to being a squad player owing to Xavi’s preference for using Andres Christensen, Ronald Araujo, and Jules Kounde.

As a result, Garcia was eventually used as a pivot towards the end of the previous campaign and although the signs were positive, there was no affirmation of his constant participation.

Furthermore, with Ilkay Gundogan and Oriol Romeu both arriving, even the option of playing in midfield was closed.

The player eventually forced a loan exit, joining Girona until the end of the season and as it turns out, he has been their first-choice centre-back, having played seven games while clocking 479 minutes.

“In 24 hours my future at Barça changed. On Thursday I spoke with Xavi and we agreed that I would stay and on Friday I ended up leaving on loan. That’s what the transfer market has,” he told Jijantes.

Girona a breath of fresh air

The centre-back went on to explain the challenge he faces at Girona, saying that although there is pressure, he gets more time to analyze his performance as there are fewer matches to play.

“Playing in Girona brings a different pressure. You play fewer games and have more time to analyze. I wanted to go out and play because I think I needed it and I’m happy with how things are going.” he said.

“At first you are much more affected by criticism but as time goes by you learn to deal with it. It is very important to have a healthy environment that tells you things as they are, it helps a lot,” he added.

He also added that he needed help to handle the pressure at Barcelona and so did his teammates. This is because situations aren’t static at a team like Barça and you have no idea when and how things will escalate.

“I have needed help to handle the pressure at Barça, like many teammates. Everything comes to you suddenly, the slightest thing that something doesn’t go well goes from 100 to 0, and reaching to extremes is often difficult.”

While Garcia is doing well at Girona, the same cannot be said of fellow Barcelona loanee Pablo Torre, who is finding it hard to get minutes in Michel’s team.

Talking about the young midfielder, Garcia said: “It is difficult to enter the rotations of a team that comes with positive dynamics. Pablo Torre is training very well and the coach talks to him at all times, he will have opportunities.”

On Joao Cancelo and Ferran Torres

The 22-year-old revealed that in the summer when Barcelona were pursuing Joao Cancelo, Garcia received a few messages from the Portuguese to know about the team, and to this day, the former Man City duo continues to stay in touch.

“Joao Cancelo sent me some messages while negotiating with Barça. To this day I still talk to him, as do Ferran, Sergi, and the other teammates who are still in Barcelona,” he said.

On the other hand, he also talked about the form of Ferran Torres and how the forward has turned things around in such little time.

“Ferran Torres before was not a 0 nor is he now a 100. In the end, this is how it is and due to different situations, a person can be worse or better. He has worked hard to be in the situation that is now,” he said.